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Irish government ‘should look at introducing a vacant homes tax’

Ireland’s Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said the Government needs to look at introducing a new vacant homes tax, the Irish Independent reported last week. In an email to his parliamentary party, Fine…

Inheritance tax thresholds

Will the issue of inheritance tax rear its head in Ireland again now that property prices are rising once more, asked a recent article in the Irish Times by business journalist Fiona Reddan. As she…

Finders Ireland to support two good causes

Finders International Ireland has chosen to support two good causes this year at both ends of the age spectrum – Age Action Ireland and Jigsaw. Age Action Ireland’s vision is for Ireland to become…

More people in Ireland seeking advice on Will writing in light of the pandemic

The pandemic has spurred on more people than ever to seek advice on writing Wills and having their Wills witnessed, according to an article in the Irish Times. Solicitor Fiona Kirkpatrick writes that…

Dramatic changes to Ireland’s housing market and property prices

The housing market in Ireland has seen phenomenal changes over the last 10 months in response to the global pandemic, according to an article in this week’s Irish Independent. Talking to the…

Finders International –a successful year in challenging times

Years don’t come stranger than 2020 and like all the UK’s businesses, Finders International found itself rapidly pivoting to a different working environment, services and support for our clients over…

An unprecedented year for Finders International Dublin

It’s fair to say 2020 didn’t work out the way any of us expected, writes Finders International Dublin’s office manager and senior researcher, Maeve Mullin. Like most other businesses, we had to adapt…

Irish pensions to offer more sustainable investment

European legislation due to come into effect next year in Ireland will promote responsible pensions investment, as the Irish Times reported this week in an article by Aviva’s senior investment…

New online application process for grants of probate

A new online application process for grants of probate and letters of administration will start from September in Ireland, as reported in Irish Legal. The Courts Service of Ireland claims the new…

Dame Vera Lynn—British icon who had Irish roots

Dame Vera Lynn, who died in June at the grand old age of 103, had Irish roots as explained in a recent Irish examiner article. Thought of as a British icon, Dame Vera Lynn was christened the Force’s…

Charity urges National Public Health Emergency Team to ease funeral restrictions

A charity in Ireland has asked the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to ease the current restrictions on funerals, according to an article in the Independent this week. The Irish Hospice…

Probate in Ireland—an overview

The probate process in Ireland is the legal method used to deal with a deceased person’s estate and ensure it is distributed to the rightful beneficiaries. As expert probate genealogists, Finders…

Election promises on housing too ambitious, expert claims

Ireland’s housing crisis isn’t likely to be resolved any time soon, according to a recent opinion piece in the Irish Times. The article by John FitzGerald says election promises on new home builds…

Lee Childs to seek Irish citizenship

The best-selling thriller author Lee Childs, creator of the Jack Reacher series, has said he will apply for an Irish passport to avoid the risk of travel restrictions should the UK leave the EU next…

Stepchildren and Inheritance in Intestacy Cases

Stepchildren and inheritance can be somewhat contradictory in Irish law as they appear to be regarded differently according to two relevant pieces of legislation. Answering a legal question in this…

Man of no Fixed Abode Leaves Sinn Fein £2.5 Million in His Will

The Belfast Newsletter this week revealed that the single biggest donor to a Northern Irish political party left Sinn Féin £2.5 million in his will. William Edward Hampton died in a Welsh nursing…

A rise in Irish intestate cases

Finders International, one of the leading probate genealogy firms that featured in the BBC television series, Heir Hunters, says the number of cases of Irish people who have died intestate in England…

Just Clear Featured in Forbes Magazine

Our probate house clearance partner, Just Clear, has been featured in the July issue of Forbes magazine. The global media company focusses on business, industry, finance and investment, and is read…

Finders Ireland – Four Years Old!

Finders International’s Irish office celebrates its fourth anniversary this year—four years of providing missing beneficiary tracing, no known next of kin, rooting out unclaimed assets and more. In…

Demand for Irish Passports Continues to Soar

As Brexit draws closer (in theory), demand for Irish passports from those outside Eire continues to rise. As data journalist Neil McCarthy revealed on Statista.com earlier this month, there has been…

Record numbers join Irish register of solicitors

More and more solicitors are seeking admission to the register of Irish solicitors, according to figures released by the Law Society of Ireland. The Irish Times reported that the surge in UK-based…

DNA and Genealogy Used in Baby Andrew Case

DNA and genealogy sites were used to determine the identity of a mother in the US whose baby was found abandoned in a ditch thirty-eight years ago. ITV news reported that the woman, Theresa Rose…

Angry Reaction to Reduction in Death Benefit

Credit union members have reacted angrily to moves by some lenders to reduce one of their key benefits—death benefit insurance according to a recent article in the Independent. Many credit unions…

Finders International win prestigious awards for Probate Research Excellence at the first ever UK Probate Research Awards

20190207 Copyright image 2019© Finders International has been recognised at The UK Probate Research Awards for their outstanding contribution to ‘heir hunting’, or probate research – the…

Probate Delays Contributing to Housing Shortage

Delays in probate are contributing to Ireland’s housing shortage, according to a new survey carried out by Royal London Ireland. The Independent reports that the survey’s findings show that it can…

Son Wins Case Against Will As Judge Rules Mother – ‘Failed In Her Moral Duty’

Another day, another family argument over a will ends in a court... This week, our attention was drawn to a story in the Independent about a will where three sisters were left china, cutlery and…

Independent : Laois Woman Bequeaths €30m To Five Different Charities In Her Will

A County Laois woman has bequeathed a total of €30m to five charities in a massive windfall for the charity sector, it has emerged. One of those to receive an equal €6m bequest is the Irish Cancer…

Safeguarding Bill ‘Not Possible’

Ireland’s Department of Health has said the creation of a safeguarding bill for vulnerable adults will not be possible. The Irish News reported that health chiefs say they need a minister to…

Northern Ireland – 74 Percent Have No Will

The charity will writing campaign, Will Aid, has revealed that people in Northern Ireland are the least likely in the UK to have made their will. According to the survey the charity carried out, more…

Additional Legislation Needed to Older People Care

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash An advocacy group for elderly rights has called for additional legislation in situations where people’s liberty is at risk. Sage Advocacy called for the issue to be…

‘Best Thing Ever’—Man Who Married Carer To Escape Death

Marrying someone so you can avoid them needing to pay inheritance tax when you die isn’t that unusual—it is, however, when two men who aren’t gay do it. The Irish Mirror ran the story of…

Councils Vote to Waive Burial Fees For Children

In Northern Ireland, two more councils have voted to get rid of burial costs for children, according to a BBC story earlier this month. Mid and East Antrim and Newry, Mourne and Down Councils join…

Scientific Breakthrough Recreates DNA from Living Descendants

A recent scientific breakthrough saw the recreation of the DNA of a man who died nearly 200 years ago from his living descendants, rather than his physical remains – the first time this has ever…

Unnecessary Suffering for Older Irish People in Last Year of Life

As an organisation that deals primarily in probate genealogy, Finders International Ireland was interested to note that new research has suggested that many older Irish people experience unnecessary…

Famous Christmas Birthdays And What’s In A Name

It’s that time of year when… Finders International digs out its Christmas-related genealogy stats! That’s right, just like every other industry, ours isn’t immune to the call of snow-painting our…

Starting Your Irish Family Tree Research

Setting out on your journey to discover your Irish ancestors? Here are some tips from Genealogy Ireland experts for how you can find out more about your family tree… Speak to your older relatives…

Finders International Ireland Attends Inaugural AGM for the IAPPR

Finders International is one of the founder members of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers Genealogists and Heir Hunters (IAPPR) which held its inaugural AGM in…

Finding Next of Kin for Councils

Did you know that Finders Ireland works with councils, hospitals and coroners in Ireland to find people’s next of kin for free? When someone dies intestate and without any known relatives, we can…

NY Workers Raise Money for Belfast Connolly Centre

New York transport workers have given the go-ahead to create a new interpretative centre in Belfast that focuses on James Connolly. Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader executed by a…

House Prices to Rise Unless ‘Drastic’ Action Taken

An Irish property website has warned that house prices in Ireland will continue to rise for the next five to ten years unless drastic action is taken. The figures from the latest Daft.ie house price…

Census Results Show Irish Population in Good Health

Almost 6 in 10 people in Ireland reckon they enjoy very good health, according to the latest results issued by the Central Statistics Office. The findings come from the 2016 Census, and the…

Dementia Cases To Triple

One issue that is in the news often these days is dementia. In Ireland, cases of dementia are set to triple over the next 25 years, according to one expert. Professor Eamon O’Shea of the National…

Unfaithful Girlfriend Challenges Inheritance Right

Here at Finders Ireland, we’re used to stories about inheritance battles but this one featured in the Indy Star recently piqued our interest in particular. A couple in Madison, US ended up in court…

Seven Ways To Spend The Kids Inheritance

Ever heard of the old Irish saying, “Only a fool would die solvent”? Nowadays, that sentiment resonates with many. There are even adverts that encourage it. British Airways offers 101 Ways to Spend…

Family Discussions: The Taboo Of Inheritance

While wealthier benefactors are more likely to have a will in place, this does not mean they have discussed their plans with their heirs. The global financial advice firm UBS questioned US investors…

19th Century Crimes In Ireland

Stone-throwing, ferret stealing and harsh punishments for tiny sum thefts, there’s no doubt crime was different in 19th Century Ireland as this fascinating article in Ireland’s Independent News &…

Genealogy Ireland – The A-Z Of Terms, Part 1

If you are looking into your Irish family tree, you will come across certain genealogical terms. Most of them are straightforward, but some require further explanation. Ahnentafal – German for…

Ensuring Your Pet Is Provided For After Your Death

Did you know that 61 percent of all Irish households own either a cat or a dog, and that 91 percent of them think of their cat or dog as a member of their own family? But what might happen to those…

Uncomfortable Conversations – Death

In our line of work – probate genealogy or heir hunting as it’s commonly known – we often need to have uncomfortable conversations. We search for the missing heirs to an estate, and that can mean…

Leaving Money To Charity When You Die

The late actor Alan Rickman reportedly left some £100,000 in his will to various charities. Rickman died in January this year, and he had updated his will three months before he died to ensure that…

The Irish Wake And Modern Funeral Options In Ireland

These days, funerals can take many different forms and in modern-day Ireland there are plenty of options for the final send-off. The traditional Irish wake was a common feature in Ireland up until…

The Downsides Of A Large Inheritance

Is there a downside to inheriting a fortune? Nothing obvious springs to mind, but perhaps that’s superficial. A recent letter to a money adviser suggested there are drawbacks. In the letter, a young…

Centenarians In Ireland

At the last official count (2014), there were more than 400 centenarians in Ireland – and an exclusive group of super centenarians (all of them women) who have lived past the age of 110. Irish…

Ireland: Inheritance Rights Explained

What inheritance rights apply in Ireland? Recent changes to the laws have extended inheritance rights to civil partners and co-habitants, but the rights are complex. Misunderstanding and poor…

Weird And Wonderful Will Bequests

Hair taken from the dead man’s head, a birthday and enough money for a great wake party – that’s just some of the weird and wonderful things people have left in their wills. Here at Finders Ireland,…

Irish Passports: EU Vote Doesn’t Change Eligibility

Following last week’s Brexit vote, there has been a rush of people in the UK applying for Irish passports. Charlie Flanagan, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the surge in interest in…

Need Genealogy Ireland Experts?

Do you need genealogy Ireland experts for media purposes? If so, Finders Ireland can help. We have a lot of experience in media interviews – from radio to TV, we’ve done them all. Finders Ireland…

Cost Of Dying Around The World [Infographic]

If the cost of living is rising, what about the cost of dying? In Ireland, the average cost for a funeral was €5,000 in 2013, but this can rise to as much as €10,000 at the higher end of the scale.…

An Irish Inheritance Scam – How To Avoid Being Caught Out

Recently a respected Dublin law firm was contacted by an Australian man who had received a letter, purportedly from them, regarding a potential inheritance. The scam is similar to what are known as…

Irish Sisters Look To Britain In Search For Missing Mother

TWO Irish women who have not seen their mother in over 50 years are hoping the Irish community in Britain can help them locate her. Sisters Eileen and Bridget Gormley, along with their late sister…

Removable Cousins – What This Genealogical Term Means

If the BBC Series 10 Heir Hunters is of interest to you or you have been investigating family history research, then you may well have heard terms such as second cousin once removed. Whilst you may…

Missing Beneficiary Indemnity Insurance – Why It Might Be Necessary

One of the services offered by Finders International is missing beneficiary indemnity insurance, but what exactly is this? Missing beneficiary indemnity insurance enables personal representatives to…

Genealogists Ireland

Are you looking for genealogists in Ireland? If so, you have come to the right place. Finders Ireland offers a service that provides professionally researched histories of families, next of kin,…

Overseas Assets Searches

Did you know that one of the services that Finders International offers is overseas asset searches? When people die and their affairs aren’t in order, it can be a daunting prospect for executors.…

How To Create A Family Wall In Your Home

If you are looking for a project or a unique way to display your family tree, why not consider creating a family wall in your home? While it’s common for people to create family photo walls, adding…

Your Family Tree And How We Can Help

As we are in the business of seeking out missing wills and the next of kin when people die intestate (in other words, without a valid will), our research often means we encounter families torn apart…

Lunacy Act Replaced By Assisted Decision Making Provisions

Ireland’s national parliament (the Oireachtas) has repealed the 144-year-old lunacy act. The law has been replaced by the new Assisted Decision Making Act, which gives every citizen in Ireland the…

Irish Surnames – The Origins

Here at Finders Ireland, we find surnames incredibly interesting as you might imagine. The surname is usually the first clue we have to go on when we work to locate the rightful beneficiaries to an…

Adoption – Finders International Can Help

One of the perhaps lesser-known services offered by Finders International is that we can help you search for birth parents or relatives if you were adopted as a child. It is thought that throughout…

Half Of Irish People Not Prepared For Death

Did you know that only three in ten Irish people have drafted a will and 50 percent have made no preparations for death? That’s the recent finding in research quoted by MyLegacy in support of Best…

Preparing A Will In Ireland

Finders International deals mainly with the estates of people who have died intestate, so a crucial part of our advice to the general population is to make a will as soon as possible. Many people…

A Grant Of Probate And What It Means

Following a bereavement in a family comes the difficult reality of the legal process called probate. Here we explain exactly what this means and how it works when it comes to grant of probate. When a…

Irish-American Connections

Did you know that some 40 million Americans currently claim Irish heritage? Here at Finders International, we are well aware of the Irish-American connections as finding the rightful heirs to an…

What To Do If You Are Contacted By An Heir Hunter

Nowadays, people are more familiar with the work of probate genealogists or heir hunters as they are more commonly known, thanks to programmes such as BBC1’s Heir Hunters, and information available…

The Intestacy Jigsaw

The distribution of an estate as specified by a will is often a challenging matter with extensive legal documentation becoming the bugbear of law firms instructed to carry out the wishes of the…

Finders Help The Herald In Reuniting Long Lost Brothers

An 80-year-old man who believed all his life he was an only child has received confirmation this week he has a 78-year-old brother. A story in the Herald helped reunite brothers Frederick…

Finders International Expanding – Dublin Office Opens

This week, we thought we could celebrate the opening of our new Dublin office – Suite 5073, Unit 1, 77 Sir John Rogerson’s quay, Dublin – by taking a look at some popular Irish surnames and explain…

Private: The Whys, Whats And Wherefores Of Statutory Wills

Finders International has worked on numerous cases where a statutory will application has been made. Usually it is the case that next of kin need to be researched and traced as soon as possible and…

New War Diaries Collections Are Now Online

The anniversary of the start of the First World War last year encouraged a huge surge of interest from people investigating the part their ancestors played in the conflict. And now, one of the…